Reception apparatus, reception method, transmission apparatus, and transmission method

ABSTRACT

The present technology relates to a reception apparatus, a reception method, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission method that make it possible to do a promotion for a non-subscriber to a pay broadcast service more flexibly. The reception apparatus receives broadcast content that is provided as a pay broadcast service and transmitted in a scrambled manner, acquires a subscription check application for checking presence of a subscription to the pay broadcast service depending on information indicating presence of the subscription check application, the information being included in control information including information regarding a structure of the broadcast content, and controls an operation of the subscription check application. The present technology is applicable, for example, to a television receiver capable of receiving a digital broadcast signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/544,540, filed on Jul. 19, 2017, which is a U.S. National Phase ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/JP2016/053137 filed on Feb. 3,2016, which claims priority benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.JP 2015-028294 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Feb. 17, 2015. Eachof the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to reception apparatuses, receptionmethods, transmission apparatuses, and transmission methods. Inparticular, the present technology relates to a reception apparatus, areception method, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission methodcapable of doing a promotion for non-subscribers to pay broadcastservices more flexibly.

BACKGROUND ART

In pay broadcast services, such as pay per view (PPV), promotionservices introducing programs are provided, thereby inducingnon-subscribers who watch the promotion services to make subscriptionsto the pay broadcast services (for example, see Patent Document 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2007-318798

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In that connection, in current digital broadcasting within Japan, inorder to promote pay broadcast services, in a case where anon-subscribertunes in to a pay broadcast service, a display is made indicating that asubscription to the service has not been made, and a promotion serviceis provided after obtaining consent of the non-subscriber. This makes itpossible to induce the non-subscriber to make a subscription to the paybroadcast service.

However, there has been a request for enabling promotions fornon-subscribers to pay broadcast services more flexibly.

The present technology has been made in view of such circumstances, andis intended to make it possible to more flexibly do promotions fornon-subscribers to pay broadcast services.

Solutions to Problems

A reception apparatus of a first aspect of the present technologyincludes: a reception unit that receives broadcast content provided as apay broadcast service, the broadcast content being transmitted in ascrambled manner; an acquisition unit that acquires a subscription checkapplication for checking presence of a subscription to the pay broadcastservice depending on information indicating presence of the subscriptioncheck application, the information being included in control informationincluding information regarding a structure of the broadcast content;and a control unit that controls an operation of the subscription checkapplication.

The reception apparatus of the first aspect of the present technologymay be an independent apparatus, and may be an internal block thatconstitutes one apparatus. In addition, a reception method of the firstaspect of the present technology is a reception method corresponding tothe reception apparatus of the first aspect of the present technology.

In the reception apparatus and the reception method of the first aspectof the present technology, broadcast content provided as a pay broadcastservice is received, the broadcast content being transmitted in ascrambled manner. A subscription check application for checking presenceof a subscription to the pay broadcast service is acquired depending oninformation indicating presence of the subscription check application,the information being included in control information includinginformation regarding a structure of the broadcast content. Then, anoperation of the subscription check application is controlled.

A transmission apparatus of a second aspect of the present technologyincludes: a generation unit that generates control information includinginformation regarding a structure of broadcast content to be provided asa pay broadcast service, the control information including informationindicating presence of a subscription check application for checkingpresence of a subscription to the pay broadcast service; and atransmission unit that transmits the control information to betransmitted in a non-scrambled manner together with the broadcastcontent to be transmitted in a scrambled manner.

The transmission apparatus of the second aspect of the presenttechnology may be an independent apparatus, and may be an internal blockthat constitutes one apparatus. In addition, a transmission method ofthe second aspect of the present technology is a transmission methodcorresponding to the transmission apparatus of the second aspect of thepresent technology.

In the transmission apparatus and the transmission method of the secondaspect of the present technology, control information is generatedincluding information regarding a structure of broadcast content to beprovided as a pay broadcast service, the control information includinginformation indicating presence of a subscription check application forchecking presence of a subscription to the pay broadcast service. Then,the control information is transmitted in a non-scrambled mannertogether with the broadcast content that is transmitted in a scrambledmanner.

Effects of the Invention

According to the first and second aspects of the present technology, apromotion for a non-subscriber to the pay broadcast service can be donemore flexibly.

Note that effects described here are not necessarily restrictive, andmay be either of effects described in the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a protocol stack of a broadcastingsystem that employs an MMT scheme.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a TLV packet thattransmits timed media data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a TLV packet thattransmits non-timed media data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an MMTP payload.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an MMTP packet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a structure of TLV-SI.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an ID system of the broadcasting systemthat employs the MMT scheme.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a structure of MMT-SI.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a PA message.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an M2 section message.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a structure of MPT.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a structure of location information.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a structure of data transmissionrelated information.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a data directorymanagement table.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a data asset managementtable.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a data contentmanagement table.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of applicationtransmission.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of one embodiment of abroadcast communication system to which the present technology isapplied.

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating a specific process flow in areception apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a conventional promotion service.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a promotion service to which thepresent technology is applied in a case where a single service isprovided.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary subscription check API.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary transition ofapplications in FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a promotion service to which thepresent technology is applied in a case where a plurality of services isprovided.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary transition ofapplications of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating exemplary syntax of an applicationservice descriptor.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating exemplary syntax of an access controldescriptor.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of atransmission apparatus.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of thereception apparatus.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission process.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning process.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a pay related application process.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of acomputer.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present technology will be described below withreference to the drawings. Note that the description will be made in thefollowing order.

1. Outline of MMT scheme

2. Configuration of system

3. Exemplary operation

4. Exemplary syntax

5. Configuration of each apparatus

6. Process flow to be executed by each apparatus

7. Variation

8. Configuration of computer

<1. Outline of MMT Scheme>

While a media transport scheme widely used in current broadcastingsystems is a moving picture experts group-2 transport stream (MPEG2-TS)scheme, an MPEG media transport (MMT) scheme has been prescribed as amedia transport scheme assuming introduction of a coordinated service ofbroadcasting and communication. Note that details of the MMT-based mediatransport scheme are described in the following Non-Patent Document 1.

-   Non-Patent Document 1: ARIB STD-B60 Version 1.1 Association of Radio    Industries and Businesses    (Protocol Stack)

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a protocol stack of a broadcastingsystem that employs the MMT scheme.

In the protocol stack of FIG. 1, the lowest layer is the physical layer(PHY). In the MMT scheme, while some data may be transmitted not onlyvia broadcasting but also via communication, in a case where data istransmitted via broadcasting, a frequency band allocated to eachphysical channel corresponds to the physical layer.

Upper layers of the physical layer are a type length value (TLV) layerand a user datagram protocol/Internet protocol (UDP/IP) layer. Inaddition, the MMT scheme is employed as a media transport layer forproviding a function of converting components that constitute broadcastcontent, such as video and audio, into a format suitable fortransmission or use.

In the MMT scheme, video data encoded by high efficiency video coding(HEVC) and audio data encoded by advanced audio coding (AAC) are in amedia fragment unit/media processing unit (MFU/MPU) format, loaded on anMMT protocol (MMTP) payload, converted into an MMTP packet, and thentransmitted in an IP packet.

In addition, data of subtitles and applications related to broadcastcontent is also in the MFU/MPU format, loaded on an MMTP payload,converted into an MMTP packet, and then transmitted in an IP packet.Note that subtitles are described in a timed text markup language (TTML)format. In addition, applications are described in a hypertext markuplanguage 5 (HTML 5) format.

IP packets configured in this way are transmitted in a TLV packetformat. Here, one IP packet or an IP packet obtained by compressing oneheader is transmitted as one TLV packet. In addition to these pieces ofmedia data, control information is transmitted.

The control information includes TLV-SI regarding a TLV multiplexingscheme for multiplexing an IP packet and MMT-SI regarding MMT, which isa media transport scheme. That is, the TLV-SI is control informationregarding multiplexing of an IP packet, and provides information fortuning and correspondence information between a service and an IPaddress. In addition, the MMT-SI is control information indicating astructure of broadcast content and the like. The MMT-SI is in an MMTcontrol message format, loaded on an MMTP payload, converted into anMMTP packet, and then transmitted in an IP packet.

In addition, in a broadcasting system, a network time protocol (NTP) istransmitted as time information for providing absolute time.

(Structure of TLV Packet)

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a TLV packet thattransmits timed media data, such as video and audio, out of media data.

In FIG. 2, the MPU is a unit of processing in processing of timed mediadata, such as video and audio. The MPU includes one or more accessunits, and is a unit in which decoding processing of video and audio canbe performed in the MPU alone. A size of the MPU is arbitrary, and invideo data (video ES) in which encoding is performed using inter-frameprediction, the MPU needs to be in a unit of a group of picture (GOP).In addition, in the MPU, the MFU can be configured in units of a networkabstraction layer (NAL) or an access unit.

The MPU and the MFU in a unit of GOP constitute the MMTP payload. InFIG. 2, control information that constitutes the GOP, such as accessunit delimiter (AUD), sequence parameter set (SPS), picture parameterset (PPS), and supplemental enhancement information (SEIs), constitutesone MMTP payload. In addition, slices constituting each picture andconstituting a GOP are extracted in accordance with a predetermined datasize, thereby constituting a plurality of MMTP payloads. An MMT payloadheader is added to a head of each MMTP payload.

The MMTP payload is transmitted in one MMTP packet. An MMT packet headeris added to a head of each MMTP packet. Here, as the MMTP payload, theMMT-SI as control information is placed in addition to data of video oraudio. In FIG. 2, “V” represents video and “A” represents audio. Notethat FIG. 4 illustrates detailed structure of the MMTP payload. Inaddition, FIG. 5 illustrates detailed structure of the MMTP packet.

The MMTP packet is transmitted in one TLV packet. As the TLV packet, aTLV packet in which the TLV-SI as control information is placed isgenerated, in addition to the TLV packet in which video, audio, andMMT-SI are placed. Then, while a TLV header, an IP header, and a UDPheader are added to a head of the former TLV packet, only a TLV headeris added to a head of the latter TLV packet.

The TLV packet generated in this way is transmitted after transmissionchannel encoding, modulation, and the like are performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a TLV packet thattransmits non-timed media data, such as a file format application, outof media data.

In FIG. 3, in processing of non-timed media data such as a file formatapplication, each file corresponds to an MPU. That is, the MPU is in afile unit. In addition, in the MPU, an MFU, which is a unit smaller thanthe MPU, can be configured.

The MPU or the MFU constitutes an MMT payload. In FIG. 3, a file F1constitutes one MMTP payload. In addition, a file F2 is divided intofiles F2-1 and F2-2 in accordance with a predetermined data size, andthe divided files F2-1 and F2-2 constitute two MMTP payloads. An MMTpayload header is added to a head of each MMTP payload.

The MMTP payload is transmitted in one MMTP packet. An MMT packet headeris added to a head of each MMTP packet. Note that FIG. 4 illustrates astructure of the MMTP payload. In addition, FIG. 5 illustrates astructure of the MMTP packet.

The MMTP packet is transmitted in one TLV packet. A TLV header, an IPheader, and a UDP header are added to a head of the TLV packet in whichthe file is placed.

The TLV packet generated in this way is multiplexed with the TLV packetin which video data, audio data, control information and the like areplaced. The TLV packet is then transmitted after transmission channelencoding, modulation, and the like are performed.

(Structure of TLV-SI)

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a structure of TLV-SI.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a TLV-network information table (TLV-NIT) andan address map table (AMT) are prescribed as TLV-SI tables.

The TLV-NIT includes information regarding a transmission channel, suchas a modulation frequency, and information for associating services intransmission in a TLV packet. In the TLV-NIT, a TLV stream loop isplaced for a network ID (network_id). Each TLV stream loop is identifiedwith a TLV stream ID (TLV_stream_id). Tuning information and a serviceID (service_id) are placed in each TLV stream loop. Note that FIG. 7illustrates an ID system such as the network ID, the TLV stream ID, andthe service ID.

The AMT includes correspondence information (mapping information) forassociating the service ID for identifying each service with an IPaddress. This correspondence information associates the service IDplaced in the TLV stream loop of the TLV-NIT with the IP address,enabling connection to each service entry such as a PA message.

(Structure of MMT-SI)

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a structure of MMT-SI.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the MMT-SI includes three layers: a messagestoring a table and a descriptor, a table having elements and attributesindicating specified information, and a descriptor describing moredetailed information.

The message can store one or more tables depending on a type of message.The message is stored in an MMTP payload and transmitted using an MMTPpacket. The message includes a PA message, an M2 section message, a CAmessage, and an M2 short section message.

The PA message is used for transmitting various tables. As the PAmessage, for example, an MMT package table (MPT), a package list table(PLT), and a layout configuration table (LCT) are placed. Note that FIG.9 illustrates a structure of the PA message.

The M2 section message is used for transmitting a section extendedformat of an MPEG 2 system. Note that FIG. 10 illustrates a structure ofthe M2 section message. The CA message is used for transmitting a tableto be used for identification of a conditional access system (CAS). TheM2 short section message is used for transmitting a section short formatof the MPEG 2 system.

(Structure of MPT)

The MPT includes information that constitutes a package such as an assetlist and a position of the asset on a network. Various tables can beplaced in the MPT. Note that FIG. 11 illustrates a structure of the MPT.In addition, FIG. 12 illustrates a structure of location informationcorresponding to MMT_general_location_info( ) of the MPT of FIG. 11.Note that the MPT is called an MP table in some cases.

(Transmission of Application)

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a structure of data transmissionrelated information.

In FIG. 13, in a broadcast stream, streams of timed media data such asvideo and audio, and streams of non-timed media data such as data (databroadcasting) are transmitted. Note that an application is transmittedin the stream of data (data broadcasting).

In addition, a stream of control information (signaling) is transmittedin the broadcast stream. For example, the PA message, the M2 sectionmessage, a data transmission message (DT-Mes) and the like aretransmitted in this stream of control information.

In the PA message, the MPT and the like are stored. In addition, in theM2 section message, an MH-application information table (MH-AIT) and thelike are stored. The MH-AIT includes all information on the applicationand information such as an initiation state requested to theapplication.

The data transmission message (DT-Mes) is a message that stores a tableregarding data transmission. In the data transmission message, a datadirectory management table (DDMT), a data asset management table (DAMT),and a data content configuration table (DCCT) are stored.

The data directory management table (DDMT) provides a directorystructure of files that constitute the application for separating anapplication file structure and a structure for file transmission. Notethat FIG. 14 illustrates a structure of the data directory managementtable (DDMT).

The data asset management table (DAMT) provides a structure of the MPUwithin an asset and a version of each MPU. Note that FIG. 15 illustratesa structure of the data asset management table (DAMT).

The data content configuration table (DCCT) provides file structureinformation as data content for implementing flexible and effectivecache control. The data content configuration table indicates which fileor directory is related and linked to which presentation unit in apresentation unit (PU) within the data content. Note that FIG. 16illustrates a structure of the data content configuration table (DCCT).

FIG. 17 illustrates a specific example of application transmissionmanaged by the data directory management table (DDMT), the data assetmanagement table (DAMT), and the data content configuration table(DCCT).

In FIG. 17, in accordance with the MMT scheme, HTML files, image files,and the like that constitute an application of an HTML 5 format shown ina directory structure are transmitted as items on an MPU-by-MPU basisfor each data asset. For example, in a case where an application isinitiated or an application transitions to another application, an HTMLfile, an image file, and the like that constitute the currentapplication are acquired. Note that the application may be acquired froma server 30 over an Internet 90 in some cases.

<2. Configuration of System>

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of one embodiment of abroadcast communication system to which the present technology isapplied.

In FIG. 18, a broadcast communication system 1 includes a transmissionapparatus 10, a reception apparatus 20, and the server 30. In addition,in FIG. 18, the reception apparatus 20 and the server 30 are connectedto each other over the Internet 90.

The transmission apparatus 10 transmits broadcast content (hereinafterreferred to as pay content) provided as a pay broadcast service (payservice), such as PPV, via a transmission channel 80 in a digitalbroadcast signal compatible with the MMT scheme. In addition, thetransmission apparatus 10 can distribute applications that operate inrelation to the pay content (hereinafter referred to as pay relatedapplications) by data broadcasting.

In addition, the transmission apparatus 10 transmits, to the receptionapparatus 20, an entitlement management message (EMM) as relatedinformation on an identification unit of the reception apparatus 20(individual messages), and an entitlement control message (ECM) asrelated information common to each reception apparatus 20 (commonmessage).

The EMM includes an encrypted part and a non-encrypted part. In the EMM,for example, the encrypted part is encrypted using a device key (Kd),and a work key (Kw) or the like is placed therein. In addition, the ECMincludes an encrypted part and a non-encrypted part. In the ECM, forexample, the encrypted part is encrypted using a work key (Kw), and ascramble key (Ks) or the like is placed therein.

Note that the pay content may be, for example, super-high-definitioncontent, so-called 4K or 8K. In addition, the pay content is transmittedin a scrambled (encrypted) manner using the scramble key (Ks).

In addition, examples of the pay related application include asubscription check application (entry application) for checking presenceof a subscription to a pay service, a promotion application forintroducing the pay content (pay service), and a conjunction application(program related application) to be executed in conjunction withdescrambled pay content.

The reception apparatus 20 is, for example, a television receivercapable of receiving a digital broadcast signal compatible with the MMTscheme. The reception apparatus 20 is placed at home of a user. In acase where the user has a subscription to a pay service, the receptionapparatus 20 can receive a digital broadcast signal transmitted from thetransmission apparatus 10 via the transmission channel 80 and reproducepay content. In addition, the reception apparatus 20 can receive andexecute a pay related application distributed by data broadcasting viathe transmission channel 80 from the transmission apparatus 10.

In addition, since the EMM and the ECM transmitted from the transmissionapparatus 10 are acquired in the reception apparatus 20, the work key(Kw) is acquired by decoding the EMM by using the device key (Kd). Inaddition, the scramble key (Ks) is acquired by decoding the ECM by usingthe work key (Kw). The reception apparatus 20 can descramble the paycontent by using this scramble key (Ks).

The server 30 performs various processes in response to a request fromthe reception apparatus 20 over the Internet 90. For example, the server30 can distribute the pay related application over the Internet 90 inresponse to the request from the reception apparatus 20. In this case,the reception apparatus 20 receives and executes the pay relatedapplication distributed from the server 30 over the Internet 90.

In addition, for example, the server 30 can perform a process forlicensing, billing, and payment for the pay service such as PPV (paycontent). In this case, the server 30 distributes the license for thepay service in response to the request from the reception apparatus 20.In addition, the server 30 performs the billing and payment process forthe pay content of which purchase is instructed in response to therequest from the reception apparatus 20.

Note that in FIG. 18, for convenience of description, it has beendescribed that the server 30 performs all processes such as anapplication distribution process, a license distribution process for thepay service, and the billing and payment process; however, the servermay be divided into servers for respective functions, for example,servers including an application server, a licensing server, and abilling and payment server may be provided separately.

In addition, FIG. 18 illustrates a case where one transmission apparatus10 and one reception apparatus 20 are provided for convenience ofdescription; however, for example, a plurality of transmissionapparatuses 10 may be provided for respective broadcasters (pay serviceproviders), and a plurality of reception apparatuses 20 may be providedfor respective users.

(Process Flow of Reception Apparatus)

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram illustrating a specific process flow inthe reception apparatus 20 that receives the digital broadcast signaltransmitted from the transmission apparatus 10.

Note that in FIG. 19, an upper part of the diagram represents a dataflow transmitted from the transmission apparatus 10, and a lower part ofthe diagram represents a process flow in the reception apparatus 20 thatprocesses such data. In addition, in FIG. 19, a direction of time is adirection from a left side to a right side in the diagram.

In FIG. 19, the transmission apparatus 10 transmits a broadcast wave ofdigital broadcasting (RF Channel) that employs the MMT scheme. In thisbroadcast wave, components that constitute pay content to be provided asa pay service and streams of control information, such as MMT-SI andTLV-SI, are transmitted in a TLV stream.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, in the reception apparatus 20, the TLV-NITand the AMT are acquired from the TLV packet transmitted in the TLVstream by an initial scanning process or the like. The TLV-NIT and theAMT are then recorded in a memory such as NVRAM (S11).

Note that the reception apparatus 20 can acquire tables transmitted inthe TLV stream, such as an MH event information table (MH-EIT), an MHservice description table (MH-SDT), an MH broadcaster information table(MH-BIT), and an MH common data table (MH-CDT) (S12). These tables areassociated with the TLV-NIT by the service ID (S13).

For example, in a case where a user performs a tuning operation of aservice, the reception apparatus 20 reads tuning information (TLV-NIT,AMT) from a memory, and acquires the IP address corresponding to theservice ID of the service that is tuned in to (S14). Then, the receptionapparatus 20 can acquire the MMT-SI from the MMTP packet that istransmitted in the TLV stream in accordance with the IP address of theAMT (S15). Here, the MPT that is transmitted as the PA message isacquired (S16).

In the MPT, a packet ID for acquiring a component is set as locationinformation in a case where the component stream is transmitted bybroadcasting. The reception apparatus 20 can acquire video data andaudio data by extracting the MMTP packet that is transmitted in the TLVstream in accordance with the packet ID that is set in the MPT locationinformation (S17, S18).

Then, the reception apparatus 20 performs a buffering process bytemporarily storing the video data and the audio data in abuffer, andbyfurther performing a rendering process, the video and the audio of thepay content provided as the service that is tuned in to are output(reproduced). However, in order to reproduce the pay content in thereception apparatus 20, the user needs to have a subscription to the payservice.

Note that since time stamp information is placed in the MPT, decodingtime (DTS: Decode Time Stamp) and presentation time (PTS: PresentationTime Stamp) can be calculated (S20).

<3. Exemplary Operation>

Next, a specific exemplary operation of the pay service to be providedby the broadcast communication system 1 of FIG. 18 will be described.Here, in order to make the description easier to understand, to beginwith, a conventional promotion service will be described to determineproblems thereof with reference to FIG. 20, and then a promotion serviceto which the present technology is applied will be described withreference to FIG. 21 to FIG. 25.

(Conventional Promotion Service)

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a conventional promotion service. FIG.20 illustrates a broadcast stream transmitted from the transmissionapparatus 10 to the reception apparatus 20, and the MPEG 2-TS scheme isused as the media transport scheme.

In FIG. 20, in the broadcast stream, a stream of a pay service to whicha service ID of “A” is assigned and a stream of a free promotion serviceto which a service ID of “B” is assigned are transmitted. In addition,in the broadcast stream, a stream of control information (signaling) istransmitted including a service description table (SDT) in whichinformation on a service level is described.

In addition, in FIG. 20, streams of video, audio, and data (databroadcasting) that serve as components that constitute the pay serviceare scrambled (encrypted). That is, these scrambled video, audio, anddata constitute pay content, and only users who have a subscription tothe pay service can view the pay content. However, as illustrated with adotted line in the diagram, it is optional whether to transmit, forexample, the stream of data (data broadcasting), such as an application,in the pay service.

On the other hand, streams of video, audio, and data (data broadcasting)that serve as components that constitute a free promotion service arenon-scrambled (non-encrypted)

streams. However, as illustrated with dotted lines in the diagram, it isoptional whether to transmit the streams of video and audio in the freepromotion service. That is, while only data streams are transmitted in acase where promotion by data broadcasting is performed, video and audiostreams are transmitted in a case where video and audio for preview areprovided.

Here, in the reception apparatus 20, in a case where a user who does nothave a subscription to a pay service tunes in to the pay service, amessage is displayed indicating that the subscription to the pay servicehas not been made, and a message urging switching to the free promotionservice is displayed. Then, in a case where the non-subscribing userconsents to switching to the free promotion service, the free promotionservice is provided.

At this time, in the SDT transmitted as control information in thebroadcast stream, a free promotion service to which the pay service isto be switched and a link descriptor (Link_Desc) for designating amessage to be displayed during the switching are placed. Accordingly,the SDT including this link information is received in the receptionapparatus 20.

Then, in the reception apparatus 20, a resident application displays amessage urging switching to the free promotion service on the basis ofthe link information included in the SDT. In addition, in a case wherethe non-subscribing user consents to switching to the free promotionservice, the resident application switches the current service from thepay service to the free promotion service (S31 of FIG. 20).

Accordingly, the reception apparatus 20 displays, for example, amessage, video, or the like of the free promotion service by databroadcasting. Then, in a case where the non-subscribing user who viewsthe promotion desires to view the pay service, for example, makingtelephone contact with a pay service provider and performingsubscription procedures for the pay service allow the user to view thepay service.

As described above, the conventional promotion service can induce thenon-subscribing user to the free promotion service, but display andswitching processes to be performed by the resident application arespecial processes. Therefore, a manufacturer of the reception apparatus20 makes a request that the reception apparatus 20 should induce thenon-subscribing user to the free promotion service without performingsuch special processes.

In addition, in the conventional promotion service, since only switchingis made from the pay service to the free promotion service when thenon-subscribing user tunes in to the pay service, the pay serviceprovider makes a request for providing the free promotion service withhigher flexibility. Furthermore, it is necessary to prepare the payservice and the free promotion service as separate services, which maybecome operational constraints.

Therefore, next, promotion services to which the present technology thatsatisfies such a request is applied will be described, and here,separate descriptions will be provided about a promotion service in acase where the pay service provider provides a single service, and apromotion service in a case where the pay service provider provides aplurality of services.

(Promotion Service by Single Service)

To begin with, a promotion service in a case where the pay serviceprovider provides a single service will be described with reference toFIGS. 21 to 23.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a promotion service to which thepresent technology is applied in a case where a single service isprovided. FIG. 21 illustrates a broadcast stream to be transmitted fromthe transmission apparatus 10 to the reception apparatus 20, and the MMTscheme is used as the media transport scheme therefor.

In FIG. 21, streams of a pay service to which a service ID of “A” isassigned are transmitted in the broadcast stream. These streams of thepay service include streams of the promotion service.

That is, as components that constitute the pay service, the streams ofthe pay service include streams of scrambled (encrypted) video, audio,and data (data broadcasting), and streams of non-scrambled(non-encrypted) video, audio, and data (data broadcasting).

Then, the scrambled video, audio, and data constitute pay content, andonly a user who has a subscription to the pay service can view the paycontent. However, as illustrated with a dotted line in the diagram, itis optional whether to transmit, for example, the stream of data (databroadcasting), such as an application, out of the scrambled streams. Inaddition, the non-scrambled video, audio, and data are transmitted forproviding the promotion service. However, as illustrated with dottedlines in the diagram, it is optional whether to transmit the streams ofvideo and audio out of the non-scrambled streams.

In addition, the streams of the pay service include a stream of MMT-SIfor transmitting control information for the pay service. The MMT-SIstream is a non-scrambled (non-encrypted) stream.

Here, in a case where the user tunes in to the pay service in thereception apparatus 20, MPT transmitted as a PA message is acquired inthe MMT-SI stream. In the MPT, an application service descriptor(App_Service_Desc) and an access control descriptor(Access_Control_Desc) are placed.

The application service descriptor is a descriptor for describinginformation regarding an application. The application service descriptordescribes information indicating where to acquire anMH applicationinformation table (MH-AIT), and information indicating whether a datatransmission message (DT-Mes) is transmitted, and the like.

Note that the application service descriptor is placed as necessary. Inaddition, a detailed structure of the application service descriptorwill be described later with reference to syntax of FIG. 26.

The access control descriptor is a descriptor for describing informationregarding a conditional access system (CAS). An application initiativeflag (app_initiative_flag) is described in the access controldescriptor. This application initiative flag is information indicatingpresence of the subscription check application. That is, with theapplication initiative flag, it is possible to recognize whether thepromotion service to which the present technology is applied issupported by the pay related application transmitted in thenon-scrambled data (data broadcasting).

Note that the access control descriptor is placed only in a case wherethe components that constitute the service are scrambled. In addition, adetailed structure of the access control descriptor will be describedlater with reference to syntax of FIG. 27.

In a case where the access control descriptor is placed in the MPT, thereception apparatus 20 checks the application initiative flag describedin the access control descriptor. In a case where the applicationinitiative flag indicates that the subscription check applicationexists, the reception apparatus 20 acquires the MH applicationinformation table (MH-AIT) transmitted as an M2 section message in theMMT-SI stream, in accordance with information (AIT_URL) that indicateswhere to acquire the MH application information table (MH-AIT) describedin the application service descriptor (S41).

In addition, the reception apparatus 20 acquires management tablestransmitted as the data transmission message (DT-Mes) in the MMT-SIstream, in accordance with an application URL (App_URL) described in theMH application information table (MH-AIT) (S42). Here, as the managementtables, a data directory management table (DDMT), a data assetmanagement table (DAMT), and a data content configuration table (DCCT)are acquired.

The reception apparatus 20 acquires a subscription check application A1to be transmitted in the non-scrambled stream of data (databroadcasting), in accordance with the description of the managementtables (DDMT, DAMT, DCCT) (S43). The subscription check application A1can execute an API for acquiring information on whether the pay servicethat is currently tuned in to can be reproduced (hereinafter referred toas a subscription check application programming interface (API)).

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the subscription check API is defined asgetContractStatus and returns “0” as a return value thereof in a casewhere the user does not have a subscription to the pay service that istuned in to. The subscription check API returns “1” in a case where theuser has a subscription to the pay service that is tuned in to.Therefore, the subscription check application A1 can determine whetherthe pay service that is tuned in to can be reproduced by executing thesubscription check API.

Returning to the description of FIG. 21, in a case where the returnvalue of the subscription check API executed by the subscription checkapplication A1 is “0”, that is, in a case where the subscription to thepay service has not been made, the reception apparatus 20 acquires apromotion application A2 transmitted in the stream of the non-scrambleddata (data broadcasting) (S44). Accordingly, transition is made from thesubscription check application A1 to the promotion application A2, and amessage, video, and the like of the free promotion service is providedby the promotion application A2.

On the other hand, in a case where the return value of the subscriptioncheck API executed by the subscription check application A1 is “1”, thatis, in a case where the subscription to the pay service has been made,the reception apparatus 20 acquires a conjunction application A3transmitted in the stream of the scrambled data (data broadcasting)(S45). Accordingly, transition is made from the subscription checkapplication A1 to the conjunction application A3, and the conjunctionapplication A3 is executed in conjunction with the pay content.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 23, depending on the returnvalue of the subscription check API, in a case where the subscription tothe pay service has not been made, the subscription check application A1transitions to the promotion application A2 (S44), and in a case wherethe subscription to the pay service has been made, the subscriptioncheck application A1 transitions to the conjunction application A3(S45).

In a case where transition is made from the subscription checkapplication A1 to the promotion application A2, the reception apparatus20 displays the message, video, and the like of the free promotionservice. Then, in a case where the non-subscribing user who views thepromotion performs subscription procedures for the pay service,performing the subscription process (for example, processes forlicensing, billing, and payment) allows the reception apparatus 20 todescramble the pay content and allows the user to view the content. Notethat after the subscription to the pay service is made, it also becomespossible to transition from the promotion application A2 to theconjunction application A3, and to cause the conjunction application A3to operate in conjunction with the pay content (S46).

In addition, in a case where transition is made from the subscriptioncheck application A1 to the conjunction application A3 in the receptionapparatus 20, the scrambled pay content is descrambled, the pay contentis reproduced, and the conjunction application A3 is executed inconjunction with the pay content.

As described above, in the promotion service to which the presenttechnology is applied in a case where the pay service provider providesa single service, the subscription check application A1 executes thesubscription check API, and then executes the promotion application A2or the conjunction application A3 depending on a result of the check.

Therefore, as in conventional promotion services, in the receptionapparatus 20, a resident application does not need to execute a specialprocess such as display and switching for providing a free promotionservice, which can satisfy the request of the manufacturer of thereception apparatus 20.

In addition, instead of simply switching from the pay service to thefree promotion service as in conventional promotion services, thepromotion application A2 or the conjunction application A3 is executeddepending on the check result of the subscription check application A1,which can provide the free promotion service with higher flexibility,and thus can satisfy the request of the pay service provider.Furthermore, since the pay service and the promotion service areprovided as the same service, it is possible to avoid operationalrestrictions caused by providing the two services as separate services.

(Promotion Service in a Plurality of Services)

Next, a promotion service in a case where the pay service providerprovides a plurality of services will be described with reference toFIGS. 24 to 25.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a promotion service to which thepresent technology is applied in a case where a plurality of servicesare provided. FIG. 24 illustrates a broadcast stream to be transmittedfrom the transmission apparatus 10 to the reception apparatus 20, andthe MMT scheme is used as the media transport scheme therefor.

In FIG. 24, in the broadcast stream, a stream of a pay service 1 towhich a service ID of “A” is assigned, and a stream of a pay service 2to which a service ID of “B” is assigned are transmitted. In addition,in the broadcast stream, a stream of asset and MMT-SI common to the payservice 1 and the pay service 2 (hereinafter referred to as commonstream) is transmitted. That is, the broadcast stream of FIG. 24corresponds to, for example, the streams of the pay services 1 and 2 tobe provided by the pay service provider having two channels.

The stream of the pay service 1 includes scrambled (encrypted) streamsof video, audio, and data (data broadcasting) as components thatconstitute the pay service 1. That is, the scrambled video, audio, anddata constitute pay content 1, and only the user who has a subscriptionto the pay service 1 can view the pay content 1. However, as illustratedwith a dotted line in the diagram, it is optional whether to transmit,for example, the stream of data (data broadcasting), such as anapplication, in the pay service 1.

In addition, the stream of the pay service 1 includes the stream ofMMT-SI for transmitting control information for the pay service 1. Thestream of MMT-SI is a non-scrambled (non-encrypted) stream.

The stream of the pay service 2 includes scrambled (encrypted) streamsof video, audio, and data (data broadcasting) as components thatconstitute the pay service 2. That is, the scrambled video, audio, anddata constitute pay content 2, and only the user who has a subscriptionto the pay service 2 can view the pay content 2. However, as illustratedwith a dotted line in the diagram, it is optional whether to transmit,for example, the stream of data (data broadcasting), such as anapplication, in the pay service 2.

In addition, the stream of the pay service 2 includes the stream ofMMT-SI for transmitting control information for the pay service 2. Thestream of MMT-SI is a non-scrambled stream.

The common stream includes non-scrambled data (data broadcasting) and astream of an MH application information table (MH-AIT).

Here, in a case where the user tunes in to the pay service 1 in thereception apparatus 20, MPT transmitted as a PA message is acquired inthe MMT-SI stream of the pay service 1. In the MPT, an applicationservice descriptor (App_Service_Desc)

and an access control descriptor (Access_Control_Desc) are placed.

The reception apparatus 20 checks an application initiative flag(app_initiative_flag) described in the access control descriptor of theMPT. Then, in a case where the application initiative flag indicatesthat the subscription check application exists, the reception apparatus20 acquires the MH application information table (MH-AIT) transmitted asan M2 section message in the common stream, in accordance withinformation (AIT_URL) indicating where to acquire the MH applicationinformation table (MH-AIT) described in the application servicedescriptor (S51).

In addition, the reception apparatus 20 acquires management tables(DDMT, DAMT, DCCT) transmitted as a data transmission message (DT-Mes)in the MH-AIT stream, in accordance with an application URL (App_URL)described in the MH application information table (MH-AIT) (S52). Inaccordance with the description of the management tables (DDMT, DAMT,DCCT), the reception apparatus 20 acquires a subscription checkapplication A1 to be transmitted in the non-scrambled data stream in thecommon stream (S53).

In a case where a return value of the subscription check API executed bythe subscription check application A1 is “0”, that is, in a case wherethe subscription to the pay service 1 has not been made, the receptionapparatus 20 acquires a promotion application A2 transmitted in thestream of the non-scrambled data (data broadcasting) in the commonstream (S54). Accordingly, transition is made from the subscriptioncheck application A1 to the promotion application A2, and a message,video, and the like of the free promotion service are provided by thepromotion application A2.

On the other hand, in a case where the return value of the subscriptioncheck API executed by the subscription check application A1 is “1”, thatis, in a case where the subscription to the pay service 1 has been made,the reception apparatus 20 acquires a conjunction application A3transmitted as the stream of the scrambled data (data broadcasting) inthe stream of the pay service 1 (S55). Accordingly, transition is madefrom the subscription check application A1 to the conjunctionapplication A3, and the conjunction application A3 is executed inconjunction with the pay content 1.

Note that in FIG. 24, although the stream of the pay service 2 istransmitted in the broadcast stream, in a case where the pay service 2is tuned in to in the reception apparatus 20, the application initiativeflag of the access control descriptor of the MPT is checked in a similarmanner to tuning of the pay service 1. Then, in a case where theapplication initiative flag indicates that the subscription checkapplication exists, in the reception apparatus 20, the MH applicationinformation table (MH-AIT) and the management tables (DDMT, DAMT, DCCT)transmitted in the common stream are acquired (S61, S62), and thesubscription check application A1 is further acquired (S63).

Then, in the reception apparatus 20, in a case where the return value ofthe subscription check API executed by the subscription checkapplication A1 is “0”, that is, in a case where the subscription to thepay service 2 has not been made, the promotion application A2 to betransmitted as the stream of the non-scrambled data (data broadcast) isacquired in the common stream (S64). In this case, in the receptionapparatus 20, a message, video, and the like of the free promotionservice for the pay service 2 are provided by the promotion applicationA2.

On the other hand, in the reception apparatus 20, in a case where thereturn value of the subscription check API executed by the subscriptioncheck application A1 is “1”, that is, in a case where the subscriptionto the pay service 2 has been made, a conjunction application A4 to betransmitted as the stream of the scrambled data (data broadcast) isacquired in the stream of the pay service 2 (S65). In this case, in thereception apparatus 20, the conjunction application A4 is executed inconjunction with the pay content 2.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 25, in a case where the payservice 1 is tuned in to, depending on the return value of thesubscription check API, in a case where the subscription to the payservice 1 has not been made, the subscription check application A1transitions to the promotion application A2 (S54), and in a case wherethe subscription to the pay service 1 has been made, the subscriptioncheck application A1 transitions to the conjunction application A3(S55).

In a case where transition is made from the subscription checkapplication A1 to the promotion application A2, the reception apparatus20 displays the message, video, and the like of the free promotionservice. Then, in a case where the non-subscribing user who views thepromotion performs subscription procedures to the pay service 1,performing the subscription process (for example, processes forlicensing, billing, and payment) allows the reception apparatus 20 todescramble the pay content 1 and allows the user to view the pay content1. Note that after the subscription to the pay service 1 is made, italso becomes possible to transition from the promotion application A2 tothe conjunction application A3, and to cause the conjunction applicationA3 to operate in conjunction with the pay content 1 (S56).

In addition, in a case where transition is made from the subscriptioncheck application A1 to the conjunction application A3 in the receptionapparatus 20, the scrambled pay content 1 is descrambled, the paycontent 1 is reproduced, and the conjunction application A3 is executedin conjunction with the pay content 1.

On the other hand, when the pay service 2 is tuned in to, depending onthe return value of the subscription check API, in a case where thesubscription to the pay service 2 has not been made, the subscriptioncheck application A1 transitions to the promotion application A2 (S64),and in a case where the subscription to the pay service 2 has been made,the subscription check application A1 transitions to the conjunctionapplication A4 (S65).

In a case where transition is made from the subscription checkapplication A1 to the promotion application A2, the reception apparatus20 displays the message, video, and the like of the free promotionservice. Then, in a case where the non-subscribing user who views thepromotion performs subscription procedures for the pay service 2,performing the subscription process (for example, processes forlicensing, billing, and payment) allows the reception apparatus 20 todescramble the pay content 2 and allows the user to view the pay content2. Note that after the subscription to the pay service 2 is made, italso becomes possible to transition from the promotion application A2 tothe conjunction application A4, and to cause the conjunction applicationA4 to operate in conjunction with the pay content 2 (S66).

In addition, in a case where transition is made from the subscriptioncheck application A1 to the conjunction application A4 in the receptionapparatus 20, the scrambled pay content 2 is descrambled, the paycontent 2 is reproduced, and the conjunction application A4 is executedin conjunction with the pay content 2.

As described above, in the promotion service to which the presenttechnology is applied in a case where the pay service provider providesa plurality of services, the subscription check application A1 executesthe subscription check API, and executes the promotion application A2 orthe conjunction application A3 (A4) depending on the check result.

Therefore, as in the conventional promotion service, in the receptionapparatus 20, the resident application does not need to execute aspecial process such as display and switching for providing the freepromotion service, which can satisfy the request of the manufacturer ofthe reception apparatus 20.

In addition, instead of simply switching from the pay service to thefree promotion service as in the conventional promotion service, thepromotion application A2 or the conjunction application A3 (A4) isexecuted depending on the check result of the subscription checkapplication A1, which can provide the free promotion service with higherflexibility and thus can satisfy the request of the pay serviceprovider.

<4. Exemplary Syntax>

(Application Service Descriptor)

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating exemplary syntax of the applicationservice descriptor (Application_Service_Descriptor).

A 16-bit descriptor_tag is a tag for identifying the application servicedescriptor. An 8-bit descriptor_length is a descriptor length of theapplication service descriptor.

An 8-bit application_format map indicates a scheme applied to theapplication in a bit map format. For example, in this bit map, a headbit 0 can be assigned to HTML 5, and an operation can be performed witha fixed value of “0x01.” In this case, the reception apparatus 20confirms only that the bit 0 in the bit map is “1”, and neglects otherbits.

A 1-bit default_AIT_flag is a flag indicating whether a default AIT(MH-AIT) to be monitored or not. For example, in a case where the AIT(MH-AIT) is transmitted by communication, “0” is set asdefault_AIT_flag, whereas in a case where the AIT (MH-AIT) istransmitted by broadcasting, “1” is set as default_AIT_flag.

A 1-bit DT_message_flag is a flag indicating presence of distribution ofa data transmission message (DT-Mes). For example, in a case whereapplication data is transmitted by broadcasting, “1” is set asDT_message_flag. A 2-bit reserved_future_use is secured followingDT_message_flag as a region for future extension.

A 4-bit EMT num indicates the number of distributions of an eventmessage table (EMT). The maximum number of distributions of EMT is 8.

AIT_location_info( ) indicates where to acquire the AIT (MH-AIT).MMT_general_location_info( ) corresponds to location information of FIG.12. That is, for example, in a case where the AIT (MH-AIT) istransmitted by broadcasting, “0” is set as location_type, and a packetID for acquiring the AIT (MH-AIT) is set. In addition, for example, in acase where the AIT (MH-AIT) is transmitted by communication, “5” is setas location_type, and URL for acquiring the AIT (MH-AIT) is set.

In a case where “1” is set as DT_message_flag, DT_message_location_info( ) is placed. DT_message_location_info ( ) indicates where to acquirethe data transmission message. MMT_general_location_info ( ) correspondsto the location information of FIG. 12. That is, for example, in a casewhere the data transmission message is transmitted by broadcasting, “0”is set as location_type, and a packet ID for acquiring the datatransmission message is set.

EMT_location_info ( ) is set depending on the number of distributions ofEMT indicatedby EMT_num. EMT_location_info ( ) indicates where toacquire the EMT. MMT_general_location_info ( ) corresponds to thelocation information of FIG. 12. That is, for example, in a case wherethe EMT is transmitted by broadcasting, “0” is set as location_type, anda packet ID for acquiring the EMT is set.

(Access Control Descriptor)

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating exemplary syntax of the access controldescriptor (Access_Control_Descriptor).

A 16-bit descriptor_tag is a tag for identifying the access controldescriptor. An 8-bit descriptor_length is a descriptor length of theaccess control descriptor.

A 16-bit CA_system_ID is an identifier indicating a type of conditionalaccess system. MMT_general_location_info ( ) is information indicating alocation of the MMTP packet including related information. In a casewhere being placed in the MPT, MMT_general_location_info ( ) indicates alocation of the ECM.

Eight×N-bit private_data is a region to write arbitrary data. In theprivate_data, a type of data is identified with a tag indicated by a4-bit data_segment_tag, and a data length is set by a 4-bit data_length,and thus various types of data can be placed

Here, in a case where “0x1” is set as the data_segment_tag and “0x1” isset as the data_length, 1-bit app_initiative_flag is placed. Theapp_initiative_flag is an application initiative flag indicatingpresence of the subscription check application.

For example, in a case where “1” is set as the app_initiative_flag, thisindicates that the subscription check application exists and thepromotion service to which the present technology is applied issupported by the pay related application. In this case, the subscriptioncheck application is executed, and the promotion application or theconjunction application is executed depending on the subscription checkresult.

Note that 7-bit reserved_future_use is reserved as a future extensionregion in the private_data. In addition, the syntax of the accesscontrol descriptor of FIG. 27 is one example, and another syntax may beemployed.

<5. Configuration of Each Apparatus>

(Exemplary Configuration of Transmission Apparatus)

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of thetransmission apparatus 10 of FIG. 18.

In FIG. 28, the transmission apparatus 10 includes a time informationgeneration unit 111, a time information processing unit 112, an audiodata acquisition unit 113, an audio encoder 114, a video dataacquisition unit 115, a video encoder 116, a subtitles data acquisitionunit 117, a subtitles encoder 118, an application generation unit 119,an application processing unit 120, an MMT-SI generation unit 121, anMMT-SI processing unit 122, a TLV-SI generation unit 123, a TLV-SIprocessing unit 124, a scheduler 125, a multiplexer (Mux) 126, ascrambler 127, and a transmission unit 128.

The time information generation unit 111 generates time information,such as NTP, and supplies the time information to the time informationprocessing unit 112. The time information processing unit 112 processesthe time information (NTP) supplied from the time information generationunit 111, and then supplies the processed time information to themultiplexer 126.

The audio data acquisition unit 113 acquires audio data as a componentfrom a built-in storage, an external server, a microphone, or the like,and then supplies the acquired audio data to the audio encoder 114. Theaudio encoder 114 encodes the audio data supplied from the audio dataacquisition unit 113 in accordance with a coding scheme, such as AAC,and then supplies the encoded audio data to the multiplexer 126.

The video data acquisition unit 115 acquires video data as a componentfrom a built-in storage, an external server, a camera, or the like, andthen supplies the acquired video data to the video encoder 116. Thevideo encoder 116 encodes the video data supplied from the video dataacquisition unit 115 in accordance with a coding scheme, such as HEVC,and then supplies the encoded video data to the multiplexer 126.

The subtitles data acquisition unit 117 acquires subtitles data as acomponent from a built-in storage, an external server, or the like, andthen supplies the acquired subtitles data to the subtitles encoder 118.The subtitles encoder 118 encodes the subtitles data supplied from thesubtitles data acquisition unit 117 in accordance with a predeterminedencoding scheme, and then supplies the encoded subtitles data to themultiplexer 126. Note that the subtitles data is described in a TTMLformat.

The application generation unit 119 generates application data in anHTML 5 format on the basis of raw data for generating applications, suchas pay related applications (for example, HTML file and JPEG file), andthen supplies the generated application data to the applicationprocessing unit 120. The application processing unit 120 performs, forexample, a process for transmission as data broadcasting on theapplication data in an HTML 5 format supplied from the applicationgeneration unit 119, and then supplies the application data to themultiplexer 126.

The MMT-SI generation unit 121 generates MMT-SI on the basis of raw datafor generating the MMT-SI, and then supplies the generated MMT-SI to theMMT-SI processing unit 122. The MMT-SI processing unit 122 performs, forexample, a process for transmission as MMT control information on theMMT-SI supplied from the MMT-SI generation unit 121, and then suppliesthe MMT-SI to the multiplexer 126.

The TLV-SI generation unit 123 generates TLV-SI on the basis of raw datafor generating the TLV-SI, and then supplies the generated TLV-SI to theTLV-SI processing unit 124. The TLV-SI processing unit 124 performs, forexample, a process for transmission as TLV control information on theTLV-SI supplied from the TLV-SI generation unit 123, and then suppliesthe TLV-SI to the multiplexer 126.

The scheduler 125 controls units from the application generation unit119 to the TLV-SI processing unit 124 to manage timing to transmit theapplication, MMT-SI, and TLV-SI.

The multiplexer 126 is provided with the time information (NTP) from thetime information processing unit 112, the audio data from the audioencoder 114, the video data from the video encoder 116, the subtitlesdata from the subtitles encoder 118, the application data from theapplication processing unit 120, the MMT-SI from the MMT-SI processingunit 122, and the TLV-SI from the TLV-SI processing unit 124.

The multiplexer 126 multiplexes the time information (NTP), thecomponent data of audio, video and subtitles, the application data, theMMT-SI control information, and the TLV-SI control information into abroadcast stream, and then supplies the generated broadcast stream tothe transmission unit 128.

Here, the multiplexer 126 includes IP service MUXs 131-1 to 131-N(N isan integer equal to or greater than 1) and a TLVMUX 132.

The IP service MUXs 131-1 to 131-N multiplex the time information (NTP),the component data, the application data, and the control information(MMT-SI) for each service. The TLVMUX 132 further multiplexes data ofeach service multiplexed by the IP service MUXs 131-1 to 131-N, and thecontrol information (TLV-SI).

In addition, the scrambler 127 uses the scramble key (Ks) to scramble(encrypt) components and application data supplied to the multiplexer126 as necessary.

For example, in a case where pay content includes components of audio,video, and subtitles, the scrambler 127 scrambles data of thesecomponents by using the scramble key (Ks). In addition, for example, ina case where a pay related application is transmitted as an application,while the scrambler 127 scrambles data of a conjunction application byusing the scramble key (Ks), the scrambler 127 considers data of thesubscription check application and the promotion application asnon-scrambled (non-encrypted) data. Note that although not illustratedfor simple description, the EMM and the ECM as control information areincluded in the broadcast stream.

The transmission unit 128 transmits the broadcast stream supplied fromthe multiplexer 126 via an antenna 129 as a digital broadcast signal(broadcast wave).

Note that the transmission apparatus 10 of FIG. 28 transmits a digitalbroadcast signal compatible with the MMT scheme, and details of the datatransmission using the MMT scheme are as described earlier withreference to FIGS. 1 to 17.

(Exemplary Configuration of Reception Apparatus)

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of thereception apparatus 20 of FIG. 18.

In FIG. 29, the reception apparatus 20 includes a tuner 212, adescrambler 213, a CAS platform 214, a demultiplexer (Demux) 215, asystem control unit 216, an input unit 217, a memory 218, a timeinformation processing unit 219, an audio decoder 220, an audio outputunit 221, a video decoder 222, a video output unit 223, a subtitlesdecoder 224, an application control unit 225, an application engine 226,and a communication unit 227.

The tuner 212 demodulates a digital broadcast signal (broadcast wave)received via an antenna 211, and supplies a resulting broadcast streamto the descrambler 213.

The descrambler 213 descrambles a scrambled stream out of the broadcaststream supplied from the tuner 212 by using the scramble key (Ks)supplied from the CAS platform 214. A non-scrambled stream and thedescrambled stream are supplied to the demultiplexer 215.

The CAS platform 214 provides a function of the conditional accesssystem (CAS) in the reception apparatus 20. In a case where a licensefor a pay service is provided from the application engine 226, the CASplatform 214 holds the license. Then, in a case where the ECM is input(injected) from the system control unit 216, the CAS platform 214decodes the ECM with the work key (Ks), and compares a resultingreference license key with a license key of the held license, therebyperforming a license determination process.

In a case where this license determination process indicates that acondition of the license determination is satisfied, the scramble key(Ks) is read from the encrypted part of the ECM, and is supplied(output) to the descrambler 213. Note that the work key (Ks) held by theCAS platform 214 is obtained by, for example, decoding the encryptedpart of the EMM transmitted in a broadcast stream with the device key(Kd).

Under control from the system control unit 216, the demultiplexer 215divides the broadcast stream supplied from the descrambler 213 into thetime information (NTP), the component data of audio, video, andsubtitles, the application data, and the control information such asMMT-SI and TLV-SI, and then outputs the divided data to a downstreamblock.

Specifically, the demultiplexer 215 includes a TLV filter 231, an IPfilter 232, a UDP filter 233, an MMT filter 234, and an SI filter 235.

The TLV filter 231 performs a filtering process on the basis of the TLVheader and supplies the TLV-SI to the SI filter 235. The IP filter 232performs a filtering process on the basis of the IP header. The UDPfilter 233 performs a filtering process on the basis of the UDP header.The MMT filter 234 performs a filtering process on the basis of the MMTpacket header or the MMT payload header.

The MMT-SI is supplied to the SI filter 235 through the filteringprocesses from the TLV filter 231 to the MMT filter 234. The SI filter235 performs a predetermined filtering process and supplies the controlinformation such as TLV-SI or MMT-SI to the system control unit 216 asappropriate. In addition, the SI filter 235 supplies the MH applicationinformation table (MH-AIT) to the application control unit 225.

The system control unit 216 controls an operation of each unit on thebasis of the control information supplied from the demultiplexer 215(such as MMT-SI, TLV-SI, EMM, ECM). The input unit 217 receives anoperation of a user, and supplies an operation signal to the systemcontrol unit 216. The memory 218 is a nonvolatile memory, such as a nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM). The memory 218 records various kinds of data (forexample, TLV-SI) under control from the system control unit 216.

In addition, through the filtering processes of the TLV filter 231 tothe MMT filter 234, the time information (NTP) is supplied to the timeinformation processing unit 219, the audio data is supplied to the audiodecoder 220, the video data is supplied to the video decoder 222, thesubtitles data is supplied to the subtitles decoder 224, and theapplication data is supplied to the application engine 226.

The time information processing unit 219 performs a process forsynchronizing a transmission side and a reception side on the basis ofthe time information (NTP) supplied from the demultiplexer 215.

The audio decoder 220 decodes the audio data supplied from thedemultiplexer 215 in accordance with a decoding scheme, such as AAC, andthen supplies the decoded audio data to the audio output unit 221. Theaudio output unit 221 supplies the audio data supplied from the audiodecoder 220 to a speaker (not illustrated) in a downstream stage.Accordingly, for example, audio of the pay content is output from thespeaker.

The video decoder 222 decodes the video data supplied from thedemultiplexer 215 in accordance with a decoding scheme, such as HEVC,and then supplies the decoded video data to the video output unit 223.In addition, the subtitles decoder 224 decodes the subtitles datasupplied from the demultiplexer 215 in accordance with a predetermineddecoding scheme, and then supplies the decoded subtitles data to thevideo output unit 223.

The video output unit 223 supplies the video data supplied from thevideo decoder 222 and the subtitles data supplied from the subtitlesdecoder 224 to a display unit (not illustrated) in a downstream stage.Accordingly, for example, video and subtitles of the pay content aredisplayed on the display unit.

The application control unit 225 controls the application engine 226under control from the system control unit 216. In addition, theapplication control unit 225 controls the application engine 226 on thebasis of the MH application information table (MH-AIT) supplied from thedemultiplexer 215.

The application engine 226 is, for example, a browser that supports HTML5. The application engine 226 requests the communication unit 227 toacquire an application (for example, pay related application) undercontrol from the application control unit 225.

In response to the request from the application engine 226, thecommunication unit 227 accesses the server 30 over the Internet 90 andrequests the application. The communication unit 227 receives theapplication data distributed from the server 30 over the Internet 90,and then supplies the application data to the application engine 226.

The application engine 226 is provided with the application data in anHTML 5 format from the demultiplexer 215 or the communication unit 227.The application engine 226 executes the application under control fromthe application control unit 225. Video data supported by theapplication that is being executed is supplied to the video output unit223.

For example, the video output unit 223 supplies the video data suppliedfrom the application engine 226 to the display unit. Accordingly, thevideo of the application is displayed on the display unit. In addition,for example, the video output unit 223 can also composite the video datasupplied from the application engine 226 with the video data suppliedfrom the video decoder 222, and then display the resulting video on thedisplay unit.

In addition, the communication unit 227 accesses the server 30 over theInternet 90 in response to the request from the application engine 226,and requests the license for the pay service. The communication unit 227receives the license distributed from the server 30 over the Internet90, and then supplies the license to the application engine 226. Theapplication engine 226 supplies the license supplied from thecommunication unit 227 to the CAS platform 214.

Note that the reception apparatus 20 of FIG. 29 receives a digitalbroadcast signal compatible with the MMT scheme, and details of datatransmission using the MMT scheme are as described earlier withreference to FIGS. 1 to 17. In addition, although the receptionapparatus 20 of FIG. 29 has a configuration that has neither speaker nordisplay unit, for example, in a case where the reception apparatus 20 isconfigured as a television receiver, the reception apparatus 20 can havea speaker and a display unit. In addition, the reception apparatus 20may not be a fixed receiver, but may be, for example, a mobile receiver,such as a smart phone, a tablet terminal, and a portable telephone.

In addition, although not illustrated for simple description in FIG. 29,in a case where audio or video data is received over the Internet 90from the server 30, the audio data is supplied to the audio decoder 220,and the video data is supplied to the video decoder 222. In addition, ina case where the control information, such as MMT-SI, is received overthe Internet 90 from the server 30, the control information is suppliedto the system control unit 216.

<6. Process Flow to be Executed by Each Apparatus>

Next, a specific process to be executed by each apparatus thatconstitutes the broadcast communication system 1 of FIG. 18 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 30 to 32.

(Transmission Process)

To begin with, a transmission process flow to be executed by thetransmission apparatus 10 of FIG. 18 will be described with reference toa flowchart of FIG. 30.

In step S101, the time information generation unit 111 generates thetime information (NTP). In addition, in step S101, the time informationprocessing unit 112 processes the time information (NTP) generated bythe time information generation unit 111.

In step S102, the audio data acquisition unit 113 acquires audio datafrom a storage or the like. In addition, in step S102, the audio encoder114 encodes the audio data acquired by the audio data acquisition unit113 in accordance with an encoding scheme such as AAC.

In step S102, the video data acquisition unit 115 acquires video datafrom a storage or the like. In addition, in step S102, the video encoder116 encodes the video data acquired by the video data acquisition unit115 in accordance with an encoding scheme such as HEVC.

In step S102, the subtitles data acquisition unit 117 acquires subtitlesdata from a storage or the like. In addition, in step S102, thesubtitles encoder 118 encodes the subtitles data acquired by thesubtitles data acquisition unit 117 in accordance with a predeterminedencoding scheme.

In step S103, the application generation unit 119 generates applicationdata in accordance with management of the scheduler 125 on the basis ofraw data of the application. In addition, in step S103, the applicationprocessing unit 120 processes the application data generated by theapplication generation unit 119.

In step S104, the MMT-SI generation unit 121 generates MMT-SI inaccordance with management of the scheduler 125 on the basis of raw dataof MMT-SI. In addition, in step S104, the MMT-SI processing unit 122processes the MMT-SI generated by the MMT-SI generation unit 121.

In step S104, the TLV-SI generation unit 123 generates TLV-SI inaccordance with management of the scheduler 125 on the basis of raw dataof TLV-SI. In addition, in step S104, the TLV-SI processing unit 124processes the TLV-SI generated by the TLV-SI generation unit 123.

In step S105, the multiplexer 126 multiplexes the time information (NTP)processed in step S101, the component data of video, audio, andsubtitles processed in step S102, the application data processed in stepS103, and the control information (MMT-SI, TLV-SI) processed in stepS104, and then the multiplexer 126 generates a broadcast stream.

Note that in step S105, the scrambler 127 uses the scramble key (Ks) asnecessary to scramble (encrypt) the component and application data to besupplied to the multiplexer 126.

In step S106, the transmission unit 128 transmits the broadcast streamgenerated in the process of step S105 via the antenna 129 as a digitalbroadcast signal (broadcast wave).

The transmission process flow has been described above.

(Tuning Process)

Next, a tuning process flow to be executed by the reception apparatus 20of FIG. 18 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 31.Note that the tuning process of FIG. 31 is executed, for example, in acase where a desired service is tuned in to by a user operating a remotecontroller.

In step S201, the system control unit 216 controls the demultiplexer 215to acquire MPT transmitted as a PA message.

In step S202, the system control unit 216 determines whether an accesscontrol descriptor exists in the MPT acquired in the process of stepS201.

In a case where it is determined in step S202 that the access controldescriptor does not exist in the MPT, the process proceeds to step S203.In this case, since the service that is tuned in to by the user is anon-scrambled service, in step S203, the system control unit 216controls each unit of the reception apparatus 20 to perform receptionand reproduction processes of the non-scrambled service.

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S202 thatthe access control descriptor exists in the MPT, the process proceeds tostep S204. In step S204, the system control unit 216 controls thedemultiplexer 215 or the like on the basis of the access controldescriptor placed in the MPT to acquire the ECM transmitted in thebroadcast stream.

In step S205, the system control unit 216 inputs (injects) the ECMacquired in the process of step S204 into the CAS platform 214.

In step S206, the system control unit 216 determines whether “1” hasbeen set as an application initiative flag (app_initiative_flag)described in the access control descriptor.

In a case where it is determined in step S206 that “0” has been set asthe application initiative flag, the process proceeds to step S207. Instep S207, the system control unit 216 determines whether the scramblekey (Ks) is output from the CAS platform 214 to which the ECM has beeninput (injected) in the process of step S205.

In a case where it is determined in step S207 that the scramble key (Ks)is output from the CAS platform 214, the process proceeds to step S208.In step S208, the descrambler 213 uses the scramble key (Ks) that isoutput from the CAS platform 214 to descramble the digital broadcastsignal received by the tuner 212.

In step S209, the system control unit 216 controls each unit of thereception apparatus 20 to perform reception and reproduction processesof the scrambled service descrambled in the process of step S208, theservice being tuned in to by the user. That is, in this case, paycontent provided as a pay service will be reproduced.

Note that in a case where it is determined in step S207 that thescramble key (Ks) is not output from the CAS platform 214, the processproceeds to step S210. In this case, since the service (pay service)that is tuned in to by the user is not subscribed to, display is madeindicating that the service is not subscribed to (S210).

In addition, in a case where it is determined in step S206 that “1” hasbeen set as the application initiative flag, the process proceeds tostep S211. In step S211, the pay related application process isexecuted.

In this pay related application process, the subscription checkapplication is executed, and depending on the subscription check result,the promotion application or the conjunction application is executed.Note that details of the pay related application process will bedescribed later with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 32.

Upon completion of the process of step S211, or in parallel with theprocess of step S211, the process of step S212 is executed. In stepS212, the system control unit 216 determines whether the scramble key(Ks) is output from the CAS platform 214 to which the ECM has been input(injected) in the process of step S205.

In a case where it is determined in step S212 that the scramble key (Ks)is output from the CAS platform 214, the process proceeds to step S208.In steps S208 and S209, reception and reproduction processes of thescrambled service are performed. That is, in this case, the pay contentprovided as the pay service is reproduced.

Note that in a case where the processes of steps S203, S209, and S210are finished, or in a case where it is determined in step S212 that thescramble key (Ks) is not output from the CAS platform 214, the tuningprocess of FIG. 31 is finished.

The tuning process flow has been described above.

(Pay Related Application Process)

Next, details of the pay related application process corresponding tothe process of step S211 of FIG. 31 will be described with reference toFIG. 32.

In step S241, under control of the application control unit 225, theapplication engine 226 acquires and initiates the subscription checkapplication transmitted in a stream of non-scrambled data (databroadcasting).

In step S242, under control of the application control unit 225, theapplication engine 226 causes the subscription check application toexecute the subscription check API.

In step S243, under control of the application control unit 225, theapplication engine 226 determines whether the return value of thesubscription check API is “1”, that is, whether the subscription to theservice that is tuned in to by the user (pay service) has been made.

In a case where it is determined in step S243 that the return value ofthe subscription check API is “0”, that is, the subscription to the payservice has not been made, the process proceeds to step S244. In stepS244, under control of the application control unit 225, the applicationengine 226 acquires and initiates the promotion application transmittedin a stream of non-scrambled data (data broadcasting).

Accordingly, transition is made from the subscription check applicationto the promotion application, and a message, video, and the like of thefree promotion service are provided. Then, in a case where thenon-subscribing user who views the promotion performs subscriptionprocedures for the pay service, performing the subscription process (forexample, processes for licensing, billing, and payment) allows thereception apparatus 20 to descramble the pay content and allows the userto view the pay content. Note that after the subscription to the payservice is made, it also becomes possible to transition from thepromotion application to the conjunction application, and to cause theconjunction application to operate in conjunction with the pay content(steps S208 and S209 of FIG. 31).

On the other hand, in a case where it is determined in step S243 thatthe return value of the subscription check API is “1”, that is, in acase where the subscription to the pay service has been made, theprocess proceeds to step S245. In step S245, under control of theapplication control unit 225, the application engine 226 acquires andinitiates the conjunction application transmitted in a stream ofscrambled data (data broadcasting). Note that here, the descrambler 213descrambles the digital broadcast signal received by the tuner 212 byusing the scramble key (Ks) that is output from the CAS platform 214,thereby descrambling the conjunction application.

Accordingly, transition is made from the subscription check applicationto the conjunction application, and the conjunction application isexecuted in conjunction with the descrambled pay content provided by theservice that is tuned in to by the user (steps S208 and S209 of FIG.31).

The pay related application process flow has been described above.

<7. Variation>

In the above description, the MMT scheme has been described as the mediatransport scheme, but for example, another method may be employed suchas MPEG2-TS.

Note that examples of the digital television broadcasting standard towhich the present technology is applicable include integrated servicesdigital broadcasting (ISDB), which is a scheme employed in Japan andother countries, advanced television systems committee standards (ATSC)

employed in the United States and other countries, and digital videobroadcasting (DVB), which is a scheme employed in European countries. Inaddition, the present technology may be employed by not only grounddigital television broadcasting but also digital satellite televisionbroadcasting, digital cable television broadcasting, and otherbroadcasting.

<8. Configuration of Computer>

The above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware, andcan be executed by software. In a case where the series of processes isexecuted by software, a program that constitutes the software isinstalled in a computer. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an exemplaryconfiguration of hardware of the computer that executes theabove-described series of processes using the program.

In a computer 900, a central processing unit (CPU) 901, a read onlymemory (ROM) 902, and a random access memory (RAM) 903 are connected toeach other via a bus 904. An input/output interface 905 is furtherconnected to the bus 904. An input unit 906, an output unit 907, arecording unit 908, a communication unit 909, and a drive 910 areconnected to the input/output interface 905.

The input unit 906 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, or thelike. The output unit 907 includes a display, a speaker, or the like.The recording unit 908 includes a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory, orthe like. The communication unit 909 includes a network interface or thelike. The drive 910 drives a removable medium 911, such as a magneticdisk, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, or a semiconductormemory.

In the computer 900 configured as described above, the above-describedseries of processes is performed by the CPU 901 loading the programrecorded in the ROM 902 or the recording unit 908 to the RAM 903 via theinput/output interface 905 and the bus 904, and executing the program.

The program to be executed by the computer 900 (CPU 901) can be recordedand provided, for example, on the removable medium 911 as a packagemedium or the like. In addition, the program can be provided via a wiredor wireless transmission medium, such as a local area network, theInternet, and digital satellite broadcasting.

In the computer 900, the program can be installed in the recording unit908 via the input/output interface 905 by loading the removable medium911 in the drive 910. In addition, the program can be received by thecommunication unit 909 via a wired or wireless transmission medium, andcan be installed in the recording unit 908. Besides this, the programcan be installed in advance in the ROM 902 or the recording unit 908.

Here, in the present specification, the process the computer performs inaccordance with the program does not necessarily need to be performed intime sequence in the order described as flowcharts. That is, the processthe computer performs in accordance with the program also includesprocesses to be performed in parallel or individually (for example,parallel processing or processing by an object). In addition, theprogram may be processed by one computer (processor), and distributedprocessing may be performed by a plurality of computers.

Note that embodiments of the present technology are not limited to theabove-described embodiment, but various changes can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present technology.

In addition, the present technology can have the followingconfigurations.

(1) A reception apparatus including:

a reception unit that receives broadcast content provided as a paybroadcast service, the broadcast content being transmitted in ascrambled manner;

an acquisition unit that acquires a subscription check application forchecking presence of a subscription to the pay broadcast servicedepending on information indicating presence of the subscription checkapplication, the information being included in control informationincluding information regarding a structure of the broadcast content;and

a control unit that controls an operation of the subscription checkapplication.

(2) The reception apparatus according to (1), in which

in a case where the subscription check application exists, when it isconfirmed by executing the subscription check application that thesubscription to the pay broadcast service has not been made, theacquisition unit acquires a promotion application for introducing thebroadcast content,

when it is confirmed by executing the subscription check applicationthat the subscription to the pay broadcast service has been made, theacquisition unit acquires a conjunction application to be executed inconjunction with the descrambled broadcast content, and

the control unit causes transition from the subscription checkapplication to one of the promotion application and the conjunctionapplication to control an operation of one of the promotion applicationand the conjunction application.

(3) The reception apparatus according to (2), in which

in a case where the subscription to the pay broadcast service is made bya non-subscribing user by executing the promotion application, theacquisition unit acquires the conjunction application to be executed inconjunction with the descrambled broadcast content, and

the control unit executes the conjunction application in conjunctionwith the broadcast content.

(4) The reception apparatus according to (2) or (3), in which

the control information is transmitted in a non-scrambled manner,

the subscription check application is transmitted in a non-scrambledmanner,

the promotion application is transmitted in a non-scrambled manner, and

the conjunction application is transmitted in a scrambled manner.

(5) The reception apparatus according to any of (2) to (4), in which

the subscription check application, the promotion application, and theconjunction application are transmitted as data, and

the control information includes application control information forcontrolling an application and data transmission information includinginformation regarding data transmission.

(6) The reception apparatus according to (5), in which

a single service is provided as the pay broadcast service, and

the broadcast content, the control information, the application controlinformation, the data transmission information, the subscription checkapplication, the promotion application, and the conjunction applicationare transmitted as streams of the pay broadcast service.

(7) The reception apparatus according to (5), in which

a plurality of services are provided as the pay broadcast service,

the broadcast content, the control information, and the conjunctionapplication are transmitted as streams of the pay broadcast service, and

the application control information, the data transmission information,the subscription check application, and the promotion application aretransmitted as streams common to other pay broadcast services.

(8) The reception apparatus according to any of (1) to (7), in which inthe subscription check application, a function of checking the presenceof the subscription to the pay broadcast service is provided by anapplication programming interface (API).

(9) The reception apparatus according to any of (1) to (8), in which

an MPEG media transport (MMT) scheme is employed as a media transportscheme, and

the information indicating the presence of the subscription checkapplication is an application initiative flag described in an accesscontrol descriptor placed in an MMT package table (MPT).

(10) A reception method of a reception apparatus, the reception methodincluding the steps of, by the reception apparatus:

receiving broadcast content provided as a pay broadcast service, thebroadcast content being transmitted in a scrambled manner;

acquiring a subscription check application for checking presence of asubscription to the pay broadcast service depending on informationindicating presence of the subscription check application, theinformation being included in control information including informationregarding a structure of the broadcast content; and

controlling an operation of the subscription check application.

(11) A transmission apparatus including:

a generation unit that generates control information includinginformation regarding a structure of broadcast content to be provided asa pay broadcast service, the control information including informationindicating presence of a subscription check application for checkingpresence of a subscription to the pay broadcast service; and

a transmission unit that transmits the control information to betransmitted in a non-scrambled manner together with the broadcastcontent to be transmitted in a scrambled manner.

(12) The transmission apparatus according to (11), in which in a casewhere the subscription check application exists, the transmission unittransmits the subscription check application, a promotion applicationfor introducing the broadcast content, and a conjunction application tobe executed in conjunction with the descrambled broadcast content.(13) The transmission apparatus according to (12), in which

the subscription check application is transmitted in a non-scrambledmanner,

the promotion application is transmitted in a non-scrambled manner, and

the conjunction application is transmitted in a scrambled manner.

(14) The transmission apparatus according to (12) or (13), in which

the subscription check application, the promotion application, and theconjunction application are transmitted as data, and

the control information includes application control information forcontrolling an application and data transmission information includinginformation regarding data transmission.

(15) The transmission apparatus according to (14), in which

a single service is provided as the pay broadcast service, and

the broadcast content, the control information, the application controlinformation, the data transmission information, the subscription checkapplication, the promotion application, and the conjunction applicationare transmitted as streams of the pay broadcast service.

(16) The transmission apparatus according to (14), in which

a plurality of services are provided as the pay broadcast service,

the broadcast content, the control information, and the conjunctionapplication are transmitted as streams of the pay broadcast service, and

the application control information, the data transmission information,the subscription check application, and the promotion application aretransmitted as streams common to other pay broadcast services.

(17) The transmission apparatus according to any of (11) to (16), inwhich

an MMT scheme is employed as a media transport scheme, and

the information indicating the presence of the subscription checkapplication is an application initiative flag described in an accesscontrol descriptor placed in an MPT.

(18) A transmission method of a transmission apparatus, the transmissionmethod including the steps of, by the transmission apparatus:

generating control information including information regarding astructure of broadcast content to be provided as a pay broadcastservice, the control information including information indicatingpresence of a subscription check application for checking presence of asubscription to the pay broadcast service; and

transmitting the control information to be transmitted in anon-scrambled manner together with the broadcast content to betransmitted in a scrambled manner.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 Broadcast communication system-   10 Transmission apparatus-   20 Reception apparatus-   30 Server-   80 Transmission channel-   90 Internet-   119 Application generation unit-   120 Application processing unit-   121 MMT-SI generation unit-   122 MMT-SI processing unit-   123 TLV-SI generation unit-   124 TLV-SI processing unit-   125 Scheduler-   126 Multiplexer-   127 Scrambler-   128 Transmission unit-   212 Tuner-   213 Descrambler-   214 CAS platform-   215 Demultiplexer-   216 System control unit-   218 Memory-   225 Application control unit-   226 Application engine-   227 Communication unit-   900 Computer-   901 CPU

The invention claimed is:
 1. A reception apparatus comprising: circuitryconfigured to receive a broadcast stream including control informationand broadcast content provided as a pay broadcast service, the broadcastcontent being included in a scrambled stream of the broadcast stream andthe control information being included in a non-scrambled stream of thebroadcast stream; acquire a subscription check application, based on thecontrol information, for checking presence of a subscription to the paybroadcast service; control an operation of the subscription checkapplication; and acquire a promotion application in response to adetermination that the subscription to the pay broadcast service is notpresent.
 2. The reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecircuitry is further configured to acquire a conjunction application inresponse to a determination that the subscription to the pay broadcastservice is present.
 3. The reception apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause a transition fromthe subscription check application to one of the promotion applicationand the conjunction application to control an operation of one of thepromotion application and the conjunction application.
 4. The receptionapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to execute the conjunction application in conjunction withthe broadcast content when a non-subscribing user subscribes to the paybroadcast service via the promotion application.
 5. The receptionapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the subscription checkapplication is transmitted in a non-scrambled manner, the promotionapplication is transmitted in a non-scrambled manner, and theconjunction application is transmitted in a scrambled manner.
 6. Thereception apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the subscription checkapplication, the promotion application, and the conjunction applicationare transmitted as data, and the control information includesapplication control information for controlling the subscription checkapplication and data transmission information including informationregarding data transmission.
 7. The reception apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein a single service is provided as the pay broadcastservice, and the broadcast content, the control information, theapplication control information, the data transmission information, thesubscription check application, the promotion application, and theconjunction application are transmitted as streams of the pay broadcastservice.
 8. The reception apparatus according to claim 6, wherein aplurality of services are provided as the pay broadcast service, thebroadcast content, the control information, and the conjunctionapplication are transmitted as streams of the pay broadcast service, andthe application control information, the data transmission information,the subscription check application, and the promotion application aretransmitted as streams common to other pay broadcast services.
 9. Thereception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the subscriptioncheck application, a function of checking the presence of thesubscription to the pay broadcast service is provided by an applicationprogramming interface (API).
 10. The reception apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein an MPEG media transport (MMT) scheme is employed as amedia transport scheme.
 11. A reception method of a reception apparatus,the reception method comprising: receiving a broadcast stream includingcontrol information and broadcast content provided as a pay broadcastservice, the broadcast content being included in a scrambled stream ofthe broadcast stream and the control information being included in anon-scrambled stream of the broadcast stream; acquiring a subscriptioncheck application, based on the control information, for checkingpresence of a subscription to the pay broadcast service; controlling anoperation of the subscription check application; and acquiring apromotion application in response to a determination that thesubscription to the pay broadcast service is not present.
 12. Aninformation providing system comprising: circuitry configured togenerate a broadcast stream including control information and broadcastcontent provided as a pay broadcast service; transmit the broadcaststream, the broadcast content being transmitted in a scrambled stream ofthe broadcast stream and the control information being transmitted in anon-scrambled stream of the broadcast stream; provide a subscriptioncheck application to be acquired by a reception apparatus based on thecontrol information for checking presence of a subscription to the paybroadcast service; and provide a promotion application to be acquired bythe reception apparatus based on a determination that the subscriptionto the pay broadcast service is not present.
 13. The informationproviding system of claim 12, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to provide a conjunction application to be acquired by thereception apparatus based on a determination that the subscription tothe pay broadcast service is present.
 14. The information providingsystem of claim 13, wherein the subscription check applicationtransitions to one of the promotion application and the conjunctionapplication to control an operation of one of the promotion applicationand the conjunction application.
 15. The information providing system ofclaim 13, wherein the conjunction application is executed by thereception apparatus in conjunction with the broadcast content when anon-subscribing user subscribes to the pay broadcast service via thepromotion application.
 16. The information providing system of claim 13,wherein the subscription check application is transmitted in anon-scrambled manner, the promotion application is transmitted in anon-scrambled manner, and the conjunction application is transmitted ina scrambled manner.
 17. The information providing system of claim 13,wherein the subscription check application, the promotion application,and the conjunction application are transmitted as data, and the controlinformation includes application control information for controlling thesubscription check application and data transmission informationincluding information regarding data transmission.
 18. The informationproviding system of claim 17, wherein a single service is provided asthe pay broadcast service, and the broadcast content, the controlinformation, the application control information, the data transmissioninformation, the subscription check application, the promotionapplication, and the conjunction application are transmitted as streamsof the pay broadcast service.
 19. The information providing system ofclaim 17, wherein a plurality of services are provided as the paybroadcast service, the broadcast content, the control information, andthe conjunction application are transmitted as streams of the paybroadcast service, and the application control information, the datatransmission information, the subscription check application, and thepromotion application are transmitted as streams common to other paybroadcast services.
 20. The information providing system of claim 12,wherein in the subscription check application, a function of checkingthe presence of the subscription to the pay broadcast service isprovided by an application programming interface (API).